Erigaisi's World Cup Hopes Shattered as Wei Yi Seizes Quarter-Final Win

Image Source: Internet

Mumbai: Arjun Erigaisi's impressive run at the FIDE World Cup came to an abrupt end at the quarter-final stage, courtesy of a thrilling victory by Chinese Grandmaster Wei Yi. The Indian chess sensation, who had been a strong contender for a spot in the Candidates, faltered in the final tie-breaker, ultimately succumbing to the pressure and losing the match. Erigaisi, who had been flying high in the tournament, seemed to lose his composure in the second rapid tie-break game. Despite plotting a gritty escape with black in the first game, he found himself in a precarious position against Yi. The Chinese Grandmaster seized the initiative, and Erigaisi's uncharacteristic hesitation and inaccurate moves ultimately led to his downfall. Yi acknowledged that Erigaisi's loss of momentum in the second game was due to his eagerness to win, which ultimately led to his downfall. Erigaisi, who had been a strong contender for the Candidates, will now have to regroup and reassess his chances. The 22-year-old from Warangal had been hoping to qualify for the coveted tournament, but his loss means that R Praggnanandhaa remains the leading contender for the FIDE Circuit leaderboard. Erigaisi's disappointment is compounded by the fact that he had fallen at the same stage of the 2023 World Cup, and this loss will undoubtedly be a setback for him. However, the Indian chess community will be hoping that he will bounce back from this defeat and continue to excel in future tournaments.